Apparatus for producing a coiled thread package

ABSTRACT

A rotating receiving plate is provided having a vertical axis onto which the coiled thread package is formed. Said receiving plate is urged upwardly against a rotating depositing disc the axis of rotation of which is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the receiving plate. The depositing disc is carried by a rotating hollow shaft, presenting an upper open end and a radial bore in proximity of its bottom end integral with the depositing disc. In correspondence of the upper end of the hollow shaft there is secured a track-forming member presenting an outer annular track, onto which there elastically bears a freely rotatable roller, which is mounted stationary with respect to the rotating disc. The thread is passed in the contact zone between the roller and the annular track, through the hollow shaft, out of the radial bore on said shaft, and hence to a through bore provided in the depositing disc.

Ilnlte tates Patet [191 Crotti 1451 Oct. 7, 1975 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COILED THREAD PACKAGE Renato Crotti, 71, Corso Canalgrande, Modena, Italy, 41 100 22 Filed: Apr. 10, 1974 211 App]. No.: 459,644

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Dorsey Newton Attorney, Agent, or FirmLarson, Taylor and Hinds [57] ABSTRACT A rotating receiving plate is provided having a vertical axis onto which the coiled thread package is formed. Said receiving plate is urged upwardly against a rotating depositing disc the axis of rotation of which is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the receiving plate. The depositing disc is carried by a rotating hollow shaft, presenting an upper open end and a radial bore in proximity of its bottom end integral with the depositing disc. In correspondence of the upper end of the hollow shaft there is secured a trackforming member presenting an outer annular track, onto which there elastically bears a freely rotatable roller, which is mounted stationary with respect to the rotating disc. The thread is passed in the contact zone between the roller and the annular track, through the hollow shaft, out of the radial bore on said shaft, and hence to a through bore provided in the depositing disc.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sh6t10f2 33%,892

mm Oct. 7,1975 Shaet 2 of 2 3,909,892

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COILED THREAD PACKAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the coiling of a continuous length of textile material, in the form of thread, hereinafter generically referred to as thread. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for producing a coiled thread package by feeding loops of thread on a receiving plate in such a manner that the loops progress along a substantially annular path.

An apparatus for producing a coiled thread package, of the type above mentioned, is described in my copending application Ser. No. 314,522, filed Dec. 13, 1972 now US. Pat. No. 3,816,889.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the prior art there are known apparatuses for producing a coiled thread package of the mentioned type, which basically comprise a receiving plate upon which a depositing disc deposits the thread in loops, there being provided a relative movement between the depositing disc and the receiving plate, so that the loops progress along an annular path to form successive layers of thread.

The receiving plate and the depositing disc are elastically urged the one towards the other, so that the thread is actually drawn, from suitable supply means, to a through bore provided in the depositing disc, by the combined action of the rotating depositing disc and of the receiving plate, from which it is clamped while being deposited in loops. This is due to the fact that the underside of the depositing disc, which is constructed with such a diameter as to cover the whole upper surface of the package being formed, has the lowest possible frictional coefficient, while the receiving plate and the upper surface of the package being formed present a higher degree of adhesion or sticking capacity with respect to the frictional resistance generated by the side of the depositing disc which is in contact with the thread package being formed.

Basically, the formation of a thread package of the type above described can be accomplished in two ways. According to a first mode of operation, a rotating thread-depositing member or depositing disc is provided having a fixed axis of rotation, from which the thread is deposited in circular rings. Since however also the surface onto which the thread is deposited is rotating about an axis which is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the depositing member, the thread will be deposited onto the receiving surface or plate in loops which progress along an annular path.

According to a second mode of operation, the receiving surface does not rotate, while the thread depositing member or depositing disc, besides rotating about its own axis, revolves also about a fixed axis which is eccentrically arranged with respect to its above mentioned axis of rotation, i.e., the axis of rotation of the thread depositing member rotates about a fixed spaced apart axis, which coincides with the center of the package being formed.

In any case, as it appears evident from the above, it is necessary to provide for a relative circular movement between the receiving plate and the axis of rotation of the depositing disc.

Although in some apparatuses known in the art, such as for example in the US. Pat. No. 3,226,794 (ERB),

the force which is necessary for drawing the thread from the supply bobbin is directly provided by the mentioned rotational movements of the depositing disc and of the receiving plate, which determine a drawing of the thread from the said supply, it is more convenient and advantageous that the thread be positively fed to the depositing disc at the exact speed required by the said drawing action.

It has been therefore proposed, according to the mentioned application filed in the name of the same applicant of the present invention, an apparatus in which the positive feeding of the thread, at the exact speed which is required by the drawing action of the depositing disc and of the associated receiving plate, is obtained by providing a feeding roller which is integral in rotation with the depositing disc, and travels along a fixed annular track. The thread to be fed to the depositing disc is clamped between the feeding roller and the annular track, so as to be positively fed to the said depositing disc, upon rotation of same.

This arrangement has proved to be very advantageous and it operates in a most satisfactory manner. However, some problems may arise due to the fact that the feeding roller (which is integral in rotation with the departing disc) is subject to a centrifugal force component, which tends to modify, in accordance with the speed of rotation of the said depositing disc, the pressure exerted by the roller onto the associated annular track.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, an apparatus for producing a coiled thread package of the mentioned type is provided which comprises a feeding roller which is stationary with respect to the rotating depositing disc, and which is elastically pressed against the annular track of a track-forming member which is integral in rotation with the said depositing disc. The yarn is passed between the said roller and associated track at their contact zone, is thereafter passed through suitable thread guiding means, and it is finally fed to a through bore in the depositing disc, to be deposited in the usual manner.

It appears evident that, while a positive feeding takes place at the exact speed required, no centrifugal forces act onto the feeding roller, the pressure of which against the rotating track can be therefore exactly adjusted.

These and other features of the invention will be clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a pattern of deposition of the yarn as effected by the apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, with parts in section, of the apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view from the top of the apparatus according to FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show, in side elevation view, with parts in section, as many corresponding modifications of the apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation view showing a modified embodiment of the present invention.

9 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 serves for the production, from a supply bobbin of suitable textile material, of a coiled yarn package E. The coiled thread package E shown in FIG. 1 is constructed of a continuous length of thread disposed in substantially annular layers forming a coil, each layer being composed of a series of loops which progress along the annular layer of the coil, and in the example shown the diameter of each loop is greater than the radius of the package. Of course, the said diameter of a loop can be smaller than the said radius of the package, as it is known from the prior art.

The apparatus comprises a substantially horizontal depositing disc 1 under which there is arranged a receiving disc or plate 2. The receiving plate 2 is resiliently urged upwardly, in a known manner by resilient means S shown schematically in FIG. 2, against the opposed surface of the depositing disc 1, and is positively rotated around its axis A by means known per se, as shown schematically at M in FIG. 2 operatively associated with shaft 2a of the plate 2. The depositing disc 1 is fastened at the lower end of a hollow shaft 3 the axis of which coincides with the axis of rotation B of the depositing disc, which axis of rotation B is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation A of the receiving plate 2. The hollow shaft 3 (and associated depositing disc 1) is rotatably supported by an over-hanging structure 4 secured to the machine frame (not shown). The diameter of the depositing disc 1 is such that the disc 1 always covers the package E in formation onto the receiving plate 2.

The receiving surface of the plate 2, Le, the surface onto which the thread F is deposited, presents a high friction coefficient with respect to the thread itself, for example the receiving plate 2 is covered on its upper side with a layer of soft resilient material, such as foam rubber, or any suitable textile fabric. The underside of the depositing disc 2 presents, on the contrary, a minimum friction coefficient, and can be constructed, for example, of highly polished metal.

The hollow shaft 3 is rotated by a belt and pulley transmission 9, 10, the latter being operatively connected to a drive means, known per se, and shown schematically at M, in FIG. 2 in such a manner that the disc 1 associated with the hollow shaft 1, is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow C in FIG. 1.

The hollow shaft 3 presents an opening 5 at its upper end, which opening 5 is slightly flared out, and in any case presents a rounded edge in order to reduce at the minimum the friction of the thread F running therethrough, as it will be seen after. The cavity 6 of the hollow shaft 3 terminates inferiorly, below the supporting structure 4 and in proximity of the disc 1, with a radially extending bore 7, which is inclined downwardly, in the direction of a through bore 8 provided on the depositing disc 1 at a distance from the axis B corresponding to the radius of a loop of thread deposited by the said depositing disc.

In correspondence of the upper end of the hollow shaft 3 there is provided, integral in rotation with same, and in the embodiment as shown obtained of one piece withsame, a trackforming member 11 in the formof a disc presenting an outer annular track 111.

Against track 111 there is elastically urged a freely rotatable roller 12, in such a manner as to bear onto said track with its outer revolving surface. Roller 12 is mounted freely rotatable at one end of lever 13 which is swingably secured at its other end 14 to the machine frame (not shown) and elastically urged by spring 15 so as to maintain the adherence of roller 12 onto track 1 1 1.

The operation of the described embodiment is simple and evident:

The thread F, coming from suitable supply means, is passed in the contact zone between the roller 12 and the track 111 of the track-forming member 11. From the said contact zone, the thread is led through opening 5 into the cavity 6 of the hollow shaft 3, and out of said shaft through the radial bore 7 directly to the through bore 8 of the depositing disc 1, to the opposite side of the depositing disc.

Upon rotation of the disc 1 (and associated trackforming member 11) in the direction shown by arrow C in FIG. 3, the thread F will be drawn by the combined feeding action of roller 12 and associated track 111, and will be fed to the through bore 8 (passing through the hollow shaft 3) at the exact speed required by the drawing action deriving from the combined effect of the rotating depositing disc 1 and of the receiving plate 2.

It appears evident, at this point, that the pressure at which the roller 12 is maintained in adherence against the track 111 is completely independent from the speed of rotation of the disc 1 and associated trackforming member 11, so that said pressure will by no means be affected by centrifugal components, such as in the mentioned prior art device.

It will be therefore possible to exactly adjust the proper amount of this pressure, depending upon the type of thread which is to be coiled, the optimum coiling speed and other factors, without the need of taking in consideration also the very important factor of centrifugal forces acting on the roller.

As it can be clearly seen from FIG. 2, the open upper end 5 of shaft 3 projects at 18 slightly beyond the upper side surface of the disc-like track-forming member 11, so as to avoid anyfrictional contact of the thread F onto said surface. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, a thread guide 16 can be provided on lever 13, to guide the thread F from the supply (not shown) to the contact zone between the roller 12 and the track 111. Another thread guide 17 can be provided after said contact zone so as to favour the proper passage of the thread from this feeding point to the open end 5 of shaft 3.

MODIFICATIONS In FIG. 4 there is shown a modified embodiment, according to which the length of the hollow shaft 3 is remarkably reduced. Consequently, it is also advantageously reduced the path of the thread from the feeding point at the contact zone between the roller 12 and track 111 and the depositing point at the through bore 8 in disc 1. In order to reduce the length of the shaft 3, it has been necessary to eliminate the driving pulley secured on said shaft, and the rotation to the depositing disc 1 is imparted through a pulley-like ring element 109 secured to the rim19 of the periphery of the said disc 1. Said ring element 109 presents an outer groove for a driving belt 10, and also serves for rotatably supporting the depositing disc 1 to the structure of the machine frame, by any conventional means, such as in the embodiment shown, by axial thrust ball bearing means. The roller supporting lever 13 is secured onto the structure 20. i

A still further embodiment is shown in FIG. 5, where the axial hollow shaft of the preceding embodiments has completely disappeared, and the track 111 is adjacent to the upper side of the depositing disc 1. According to this embodiment, the track forming member 11 is directly obtained on the upper surface of the disc 1 and inside said member 11 there is obtained an inclined straight channel 18 leading from the open end 5 di-] rectly to the bore 8, i.e., to"the point of depositionbf the thread. The drive and support of the depositing disc 1 are obtained in the same manner as for the preceding embodiment of FIG. 4. It appears evident that by this realization, the path of the thread from its feeding point (contact zone between the roller and track) to the point of deposition has been further remarkably re duced.

The means for effecting rotation about axes A and B and for resiliently urging plate 2 towards disc 1 in FIGS. 4 and 5 are of course known per se, as indicated schematically with respect to FIG. 2.

In the above described embodiments, reference has been made particularly to the rotary movement of the depositing disc. As for what regards the relative movement between the axis of the depositing disc and the receiving plate, same can be obtained in two manners which are both well known in the art: according to a first mode of operation, as shown in FIGS. 2-5, both the disc 1 and the receiving plate 2 rotate around their respective axis B and A; according to a second mode of operation, as shown in FIG. 6, the receiving plate 2 does not rotate around its axis A, and the disc 1, besides rotating around its axis B, also revolves about the fixed axis A of the receiving plate.

Moreover, it should be noted that the apparatus could be mounted in an inverted position with respect to that shown and described. To appreciate the applicability of this statement, it is to be noted, for example in connection with FIG. 1, that while the cavity 6 of the hollow shaft may be said to be provided for permitting the passage of the thread downwardly from the open end 5 to the radial bore 7, the term downwardly is only a relative term designating the relationship of the parts of the particular embodiment shown.

Also, although in the apparatus as described the depositing disc 1 has a diameter such as to always cover the package E being formed, it is evident that the said depositing disc may have a smaller diameter, substantially equal to the diameter of the loops being deposited, as known from the prior art devices.

It is believed that the invention will have been clearly understood from the foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiments. Changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is accordingly intended that no limitation be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given the broadest interpretation to which the employed language fairly admits.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for producing a coiled thread package constructed of a continuous length of thread disposed in substantially annular layers forming a coil, each layer being constructed of a series of loops which progress along the-annular layer of the coil, said apparatus comprisingz.

a. a receiving plate ha .ing :a vertical axis;

b. a thread depositing disc arr A ed above said receiving plate and having averti axis, said axis of saiddepositing discbeing: arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of the receiving plate, said receiving plate and said depositing disc being capa ble of relative movement toward and away from each other in vertical direction;

0. means for yieldingly urging the said receiving plate and the said 'depositing disc into relative movement towards each other;

. means-forrotating the said depositing disc around its axis;

e. further means for causing a relative movement between the axis of the depositing disc and the receiving plate;

f. a through bore on said depositing disc providing a passage for the thread to be deposited on the receiving plate;

g. a feeding device for the thread to be deposited on the receiving plate, said feeding device comprising: 1. a track-forming member arranged above the depositing disc and integral in rotation with same, said track-forming member presenting an outer annular track which is coaxial to the vertical axis of the depositing disc;

2. thread guiding means integral in rotation with the said depositing disc;

3. a freely rotatable rolller supported by means which are stationary with respect to the trackforming member, said roller being caused to elastically bear with its outer revolving peripheral surface against the annular track of the trackforming member,

whereby the thread coming from a suitable supply passes in the contact zone between the said roller and the said track, through the said thread guiding means, and through the bore in the depositing disc, to be finally deposited onto the receiving plate upon rotation of the said depositing disc and relative movement be tween the axis of the depositing disc and the receiving plate.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the annular track of the track-forming member has a circumference, the radius of which is substantially equal to the distance of the through bore in the depositing disc from the vertical axis of rotation of said depositing disc.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the thread guiding means integral in rotation with the depositing disc consist of a hollow vertical shaft open at the top, the axis of which shaft coincides with the axis of the depositing disc, said shaft carrying in correspondence of its top the track forming member, while at its bottom it is integral with the depositing disc, a radially extending bore being provided in said shaft in proximity of its bottom, whereby the thread coming from the contact zone between the roller and the track passes through the open top, inside the hollow shaft, out of the radially extending bore and finally to the through bore provided in the depositing disc.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which the means for rotating the depositing disc around its axis comprises a pulley which is secured onto said hollow shaft at a position intermediate between the disc and sage opens at the top in correspondence of the axis of rotation of the depositing disc, and at the bottom in coincidence with the through bore in the said disc.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, said further means comprising means for rotating the receiving plate about its axis.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, said further means comprising means for revolving said depositing disc axis about the said receiving plate axis. 

1. An apparatus for producing a coiled thread package constructed of a continuous length of thread disposed in substantially annular layers forming a coil, each layer being constructed of a series of loops which progress along the annular layer of the coil, said apparatus comprising: a. a receiving plate having a vertical axis; b. a thread depositing disc arranged above said receiving plate and having a vertical axis, said axis of said depositing disc being arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of the receiving plate, said receiving plate and said depositing disc being capable of relative movement toward and away from each other in vertical direction; c. means for yieldingly urging the said receiving plate and the said depositing disc into relative movement towards each other; d. means for rotating the said depositing disc around its axis; e. further means for causing a relative movement between the axis of the depositing disc and the receiving plate; f. a through bore on said depositing disc providing a passage for the thread to be deposited on the receiving plate; g. a feeding device for the thread to be deposited on the receiving plate, said feeding device comprising:
 1. a track-forming member arranged above the depositing disc and integral in rotation with same, said track-forming member presenting an outer annular track which is coaxial to the vertical axis of the depositing disc;
 2. thread guiding means integral in rotation with the said depositing disc;
 3. a freely rotatable roller supported by means which are stationary with respect to the track-forming member, said roller being caused to elastically bear with its outer revolving peripheral surface against the annular track of the track-forming member, whereby the thread coming from a suitable supply passes in the contact zone between the said roller and the said track, through the said thread guiding means, and through the bore in the depositing disc, to be finally deposited onto the receiving plate upon rotation of the said depositing disc and relative movement between the axis of the depositing disc and the receiving plate.
 2. thread guiding means integral in rotation with the said depositing disc;
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the annular track of the track-forming member has a circumference, the radius of which is substantially equal to the distance of the through bore in the depositing disc from the vertical axis of rotation of said depositing disc.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the thread guiding means integral in rotation with the depositing disc consist of a hollow vertical shaft open at the top, the axis of which shaft coincides with the axis of the depositing disc, said shaft carrying in correspondence of its top the track forming member, while at its bottom it is integral with the depositing disc, a radially extending bore being provided in said shaft in proximity of its bottom, whereby the thread coming from the contact zone between the roller and the track passes through the open top, inside the hollow shaft, out of the radially extending bore and finally to the through bore provided in the depositing disc.
 3. a freely rotatable roller supported by means which are stationary with respect to the track-forming member, said roller being caused to elastically bear with its outer revolving peripheral surface against the annular track of the track-forming member, whereby the thread coming from a suitable supply passes in the contact zone between the said roller and the said track, through the said thread guiding means, and through the bore in the depositing disc, to be finally deposited onto the receiving plate upon rotation of the said depositing disc and relative movement between the axis of the depositing disc and the receiving plate.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which the means for rotating the depositing disc around its axis comprises a pulley which is secured onto said hollow shaft at a position intermediate between the disc and the track-forming member, said pulley being driven into rotation through suitable driving means.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the means for rotating the depositing disc around its axis comprises a ring element secured in correspondence of the periphery of the depositing disc and driven into rotation by suitable driving means.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the annular track is located adjacent to the depositing disc, and the thread guide means comprises an inclined passage provided in the track-forming member, which passage opens at the top in correspondence of the axis of rotation of the depositing disc, and at the bottom in coincidence with the through bore in the said disc.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, said further means comprising means for rotating the receiving plate about its axis.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, said further means comprising means for revolving said depositing disc axis about the said receiving plate axis. 